Scuba diving Sci-Fi fan, born-again video games addict (I basically gave up gaming years ago, but mo...
Scuba diving Sci-Fi fan, born-again video games addict (I basically gave up gaming years ago, but mow have a PS1, PS2 and GBA(SP), and love em all.
Big rock/metal fan who loves seeing blues bands in little smokey bars.
Oh yeah, I keep pet rats.
Member since:26.07.2000
Reviews:30
Members who trust:2
Jamaica.... The name conjoures up images of long lazy days on the beach cocktail in hand, smiling friendly locals with an easygoing carefree attitude.....
Think again. I give you Ocho Rios.....
The island IS beautiful. The scenery and beaches are stunning. The hotels are (from what I saw) excellent. But the people...well that's another thing.
From the moment you leave your hotel till you return, you WILL be offered drugs on a regular basis. This wasn't too much of a problem, as a polite "thanks but no" did the trick, but when it comes to the craft markets, they amount to legalised muggings. You buy say a t-shirt from one stall. Another stall holder anounces he will give you your change and you have to go to the next stall to wait throught the hard sell, to get your change. This is realy
annoying.
The taxis - agree a price before you get in, but expect your driver to have a memory lapse about this when you get to your destination, because he will not be happy if you stick to this price. Some evenasked us for double what was agreed prior to getting in. There is also no guarentee that your driver won't be stoned, as they are quite fond of their ganja. Fair enough, get stoned, but don't smoke and try to drive.
Tipping - this is a nation that asks in advance for their tip. One waiter on serving the main course "leave my tip on the table when you leave and I'll get it late". For asking he got nothing. At the Dunns River Falls (which you pay to climb) you'd think you'd be safe from hustlers, but no way. Even before you reach the falls you have to run a guantlet of guys trying to sell you tacky wooden statues etc. Then once you have climbed the falls, the guide stands with his hand out waiting for his tip. Again, using my rule of thumb, he asked, so got nothing.
A Jamaican staying in our hotel even commented on the greed of the Jamaicans, saying that they always expected tips fpr doing very little, and would not go out of their way for anyone if they could avoid it. He blamed the education system saying that 80% of the country is illiterate.
The people, whom I had been told to watch out for before I went (the Dreads) turned out to be the friendliest of all the people I met whilst there.
It might sound as though I hated my time there, but I did not. As I said initially it IS a stunning country. The scuba diving is great, and we did 10 dives including the wrech of the Kathryne, a Canadian minesweeper. Fern Gully is stunning, climbing Dunns River Falls is great, and the beaches are great.
We went Tubing with Chucka Tours, which was brilliant and well worth the money. $47 got you a jeep ride up into the hills outside Ocho Rios, to a point on the White river, where everyone climbed into their own inner tube, was handed a paddle and off you went down the river. At the point where you hit land, there is a jerk chicken stand where yu can grab a bite to eat, and a rope swing over the river. When we were there the river was running a bit fast at that point, so the rope swing had to be missed out as they were worried about safety.
Other trips available were horseriding the second half of which took place on the beach, bareback, in the sea. We had booked this (again with Chuckka tours as they were £20 cheaper than through our rep), but it was cancelled (thank you hurricaine Lili).
There is a place just outside Ocho Rios called Dolphin Cove, where for a price you can meet a dolphin, pay a bit more and you can get in the water, and pay a LOT more ($168) you can swim with them. This sounds good, but when you consided that I got to scuba dive with dolphins at Dolphin Reef in Eilat a couple of years ago for a fraction of that cost (current cost $56) you will understand why we didn't do it.
If travelling from Europe, wait until your return journey to buy duty free, as Montego Bayairport is really good value for money and cheaper than both Gatwick and the plane for duty free.
Jamaica was an experience, and I do not regret having gone, as I DID enjoy myself, but it was despite the hassle.
If you were considering going to Ocho Rios but wanted to stay outside the main town (which isn't up to much anyway) then the hotel we stayed in was really nice. Chrisanns is a small condominiumresort right ont eh beach. It has a nice small pool. The apartments are self catering. Downside was that there is no bar, but there is a bar (Glens) across the road that also does meals (a bit pricey though for what you get). There is also a jerk stand that is cheaper to eat and drink at, and a supermarket next to that.
This was the third time I had been to the Caribean, previously Mexico and Dominican Republic, and it is the one place I would not return to. If I want hassle when shopping, I'll go back to Egypt. At least you can haggle for a better bargin, and the peole are a lot friendlier.
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Cheers for the info. Going to Sandals Dunns river resort and get a complimentary trip down the river. Thanks for the info. Bev
BladeRunner2003 22.01.2004 12:16
I can completely support you on what you say. I know the yard intimately because I have never stayed there in the tourist resorts which are completely not indicative of what Jamaica is really like, I also just got back from Montego Bay two days ago because my sister is now serving two years hard labour in Spanish Town after being set up with 20lbs of drugs in her bags. I've seen the best and the worst of the country and its people. It is a poor country granted, people have to get by how they can so business is business but there are many parts of the country (away from the safe microcosms of the high security compunds like Sandals which is what most peoples good opinions are based on) that are unbelievably dangerous...Mel I suggest you walk about Kingston before you try and comment son or have a stroll up to Orange Hill and meet some real people. I have a lot of Jamaican friends and I love them, there are a hell of a lot of fantastic people but unfortunately, there are a large number of evil people who will do anything for money and it is very hard for most people to avoid getting ripped off and / or abused to one extent or another. It's not about colour or culture, it's just a fact of life I'm afraid...I could tell you stories to make your hair curl. Izza bad boy bizniz an a ting ya na, bless.
sarsons 17.10.2002 02:45
Similar experience when I went there a few weeks ago, and I wouldn't go back either.
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Oct 3rd, 2002
(Oct 4th, 2002)
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